Glencore and Umicore Warn EU Cobalt Rules Could Threaten Industry and Boost Chinese Dependence
Major smelting and refining firms, including Glencore and Umicore, have raised alarms over proposed European Union regulations on cobalt exposure, warning that the rules could cripple the region’s cobalt industry and increase reliance on Chinese supplies.
According to the Financial Times, twelve executives and industry organizations wrote to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen ahead of a vote by EU member states.
They argued that the planned limits are already deterring investment and undermining efforts to establish a domestic cobalt supply chain, critical for electric vehicles and defence applications.
Proposed Exposure Limits
The EU Commission has proposed limiting inhalable cobalt particles to 0.01 mg/m³, significantly lower than the 0.05 mg/m³ threshold in China and 0.1 mg/m³ in the UK.
Industry representatives are advocating for a 0.02 mg/m³ limit, warning that the stricter standard could force companies to relocate operations outside Europe.
“The damage is already being felt,” the letter stated, highlighting that firms are diverting capital away from Europe. Industry groups claim the regulations could eliminate one in six cobalt facilities and the associated employment, undermining objectives of the EU Critical Raw Materials Act.
Regulatory Rationale
EU regulators maintain that the lower threshold is necessary to protect workers’ health, aiming to reduce risks of lung, kidney, and liver diseases linked to cobalt exposure.
Rising Demand for Cobalt
The warning comes ahead of an address by EU Industry Commissioner Stéphane Séjourné, who will discuss critical mineral supplies, including cobalt, lithium, and rare earths.
The Commission forecasts that cobalt demand will increase fivefold by 2030, highlighting the strategic importance of maintaining a secure European supply.
The proposed regulations, first announced in July 2025, must still receive approval from EU member states and the European Parliament before they can be implemented, leaving time for industry input and potential adjustments.
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